It’s extremely frustrating when a computer freezes reading DVD media. When reading or copying from DVD freezes computer operations completely, there could be various causes and there are certain areas to pursue to fix the issue. They range from the physical layer, such as cabling and media, to the data and software layers, including drivers and codecs. Fortunately, when a DVD freezes computer operating systems, there are steps that can be taken to resolve the issue.

Computer Freezes Reading DVD

Have you checked the Cables?

The simplest thing to troubleshoot is actual physical connectivity. The problem with this area of troubleshooting is that it’s often overlooked as we jump right into possible software causes. Of course, how can I fix my computer if it isn’t plugged in? In order to keep things simple, always check actual physical connectivity first. To do this, first unplug the computer. Then open the case and find the DVD ROM drive. Verify that any cables running into it are snugly secured. Depending on the age and model of the computer, there could be separate connection and power cables or they may be combined. Rather than just pushing on them, unplug them and then plug them back in tightly.

Have you Tried Other Disks?

Another physical troubleshooting area to consider when a computer freezes reading DVD media is the disk itself. Does it happen with all disks or just a few? Even high-end software and commercial movies can be released on defective disks occasionally. This is especially true, for example, of DVDs from Netflix, which are passed around and can easily become scratched and difficult of DVD ROM drives to read. It’s also true of DVD-R and DVD-RW writable disks, which vary widely in quality. Try various disks to determine whether bad media is the cause.

Have you Tried Another Drive?

Trying another DVD ROM drive when actions like reading or copying from DVD freezes computer operations is another quick and easy first troubleshooting step to try. If the disk that you believe is causing the problem works with no trouble in another drive, it at least isolates the problem to the individual computer and not media.

Have you Updated the Drivers?

A driver is a small program that allows the hardware and the operating system to communicate. The problem with drivers is that, because they are small and frequently-accessed programs, they can easily become corrupted. They could also be outdated. In either case, replacing the existing driver with the latest version is the best approach. Find out the DVD drive model number, then go to the drive manufacturer’s web site and download the latest drivers. Installation instructions vary depending on whether the driver file is a self-installing executable or a DLL file, but the manufacturer should supply these instructions.

Is the Drive New?

If the drive was recently installed and any activity with the DVD freezes computer applications every time out, take the drive back to the retailer and exchange it for another one just in case. If the crashes continue, it might be a resource conflict or incorrect drivers. Again, it’s important to get the very latest drivers from the manufacturer, even if the drive comes with a driver disk already. Considering resource conflicts, they are a lot rarer today but they do happen. With that in mind, try moving the drive connection cable to another open slot on the motherboard to correct resource conflicts.

Did it Crash While watching Movies?

If your computer freezes reading DVD based movies and no other DVDs, there are certainly issues specifically related to this type of operation. It could possibly be a video card problem. To troubleshoot this, try making sure the video card is securely attached to the motherboard, update the video card drivers and, if possible, try a replacement card. Another issue with watching movies and even downloaded videos is codecs. “Codec” stands for “code/decode” and is a program that tells your computer how to read and display video data. Each type of video has its own specific codec and codec needs change rapidly. Try installing all-in-one codec packages such as FFDshow, K-lite or CCCP to resolve the issue. Also remember to update codecs frequently.

Computer Freezes Reading DVD – Is the Software Compatible?

The most obvious things are the ones that aren’t always considered. If the computer freezes during the software install process, it’s possible the software is incompatible with the computer itself. In order to verify compatibility, you should check the software packaging to verify that your computer meets the operating system, memory, disk space, processor architecture and other requirements.

There it goes again—your computer is frozen like a log in January—ever wonder how to unfreeze a computer? Computers can freeze for a variety of reasons. The program you are using may not be responding or may be lagging (waiting for another process to finish before it can respond). There may be a hardware problem with your machine. There may be a virus or spyware issue attacking the programs you are running. There may be a problem with your drivers (the programs that run your computer’s basic hardware like the monitor, disk drives, etc.).

How To Unfreeze A Computer

Computer freezes are scary, but fixing them is usually simple. One way is to simply wait your computer out. It is often an agonizing, terrifying experience, wondering how much work you are going to lose if the computer crashes, but computers are remarkably capable of fixing themselves as long as you are patient. Device drivers can usually recover (and you will get a popup explaining what happened). Programs that are waiting for other programs will usually respond if you wait long enough. I often fix my computer simply by waiting.

So now you’ve waited more than five minutes and your mouse pointer still won’t move. A second common method is what I call the open task manager and computer unfreezes method. Just opening task manager may not unfreeze your computer right away, but most programs can be ‘force closed’ using task manager. If the computer freezes because of an unresponsive program, that program can be closed using task manager. I most commonly fix my computer using the task manager. Use the open task manager and computer unfreezes method by holding down ctrl+alt+delete.

If your computer is freezing often and running slow, you may have a lot of background programs (commonly called ‘processes’) running. Open task manager and use the ‘processes’ tab at the top to shut down some of these processes. Be careful though, many processes are vital to keeping your computer running, so it is best to know what a process is doing before turning it off. Usually processes labeled “system” are vital to your computer and should never be stopped. This frees up processing resources on your computer and will make it less likely to freeze or run slowly. Note, processes automatically restart every time your computer boots, so you need to go back in and stop the processes each time your computer restarts. If you find yourself constantly stopping certain processes, consider uninstalling the programs creating the processes to remove them for good.

If your computer consistently freezes when running certain programs you may need to do some investigating. Make sure the program you are trying to use is fully updated and compatible with the computer and operating system you are using. This may require you to visit the program manufacturer’s website for updates, compatibility notes, or bug reports. These are usually easily found with a Google search. Many programs will have “patches” or updates that fix common issues such as crashing and freezing. If you can find nothing wrong then you may want to reinstall the program. Sometimes installation errors cause programs to freeze or crash consistently.

If your computer is really going haywire, you may get the dreaded “blue screen”. This isn’t always as bad as people make it up to be. A blue screen usually means your computer is doing a dump of its physical memory. Think of it as a really nasty bathroom break for your computer. It is cleaning out all of the electronic garbage that is causing errors. This is in fact good, because it means your computer is successfully fixing itself. Computers will often reboot just fine after a blue screen dump. However, if this is something that happens often or consistently with certain programs, there may be a deeper issue. You may need to permanently uninstall the program causing the blue screen freeze as they can be very harmful to your computer’s memory and processor if frequent. In these instances you can also do a “system restore”–usually accessible through the control panel options. This will restore your computer’s system settings to a previous or default state, and can fix many recurring error issues. System restores do not usually damage or delete your computer’s programs or files, but can affect files or programs causing errors.

Let’s say your computer might have a nasty case of the digital flu. Computer viruses and spyware/malware attacks are very common, especially to computers usually connected to the internet through public Wi-Fi networks (like Starbucks). Be sure to consistently run your computer’s spyware, virus protection program and scan for threats. If your programs are updated (and nearly all subscription based virus programs automatically update) your computer can usually scan and take care of threats all on its own. Making sure your computer is healthy is one way to prevent it from freezing or running slowly in the first place. This is like preventative health for your computer!

Sometimes there just is no other choice. You have waited your computer out, task manager isn’t responding, and your computer is seriously stuck. You have to manually shut off your computer by holding down the power button for several seconds. This is not the same as “shutting the computer down”. A computer shutdown is a controlled process that gradually deactivates programs and empties memory files. A force shut off is much like a power-outage. Your computer simply stops running. This is very detrimental to your memory and processor. It can also permanently damage programs (especially those you had running when you did the shut off). Your computer’s memory space and processing speed will degrade every time you shut off, even if you don’t notice changes on your drives. Eventually, your computer will simply not be able to boot-up again.

Next time you face the dreaded lock-up, remember these tips and warnings on how to unfreeze a computer.

If you have a computer freezing on Facebook games, tka. It could either be a simple, easily fixed problem or a serious issue that desperately needs your attention, but the fact remains: your computer should not be freezing on Facebook games.

Computer Freezing On Facebook Games

Computer freezes on anything is a sign of trouble. We will discuss a few possible reasons, starting with simple ones that can be easily fixed yourself. After the simple ones are tackled, more serious possibilities will be mentioned, with the recommendation that you talk to a tech oriented friend or call tech support to solve these if you feel uncomfortable or unqualified diving into such things yourself. They are also mentioned in order of likelihood.

The first thing you should do is update your Flash. You can go to Adobe.com and search “Flash Update,” then select the Flash Player to get to the update page. You can also search Google for updates from other sites as well. Usually, this will solve your problem.

If that did not fix your computer freezing problem, another possibility that could cause your computer to freeze on Facebook games is there is something wrong with your browser. This could be something as simple as your browser being outdated, or somewhere along the line some files got corrupted somehow. Try updating your browser to the latest version before anything.

If it is already at the latest version, it is possible that an add on could be getting in the way. To check to see if this is the case you should run Firefox in safe mode by selecting the Help menu at the top and clicking the option “Restart Firefox with Add-ons Disabled.” If you can play games just fine in safe mode, you should try disabling or uninstalling the add-ons one by one to see which one is causing your problem.

In the event that your browser files got corrupted somewhere down the line, your only options are to try a different browser of uninstall and reinstall the one you are using. The latter option is not an easy option for built in browsers, such as Internet Explorer on Windows, but it is possible if you dig around operating system files and know what to delete. We advise you let a tech do this if you have ruled out everything else mentioned in this article, since doing this wrong can completely mess up your computer.

Malware, such as viruses and spyware, can cause your computer to struggle doing its job. If you have noticed it running really slow lately this is probably the cause. Download and install an anti-virus software, let it update its files, and then set it to scan. Scans can take several hours to run so you should do this when you know you will not need your computer for a while. There are some viruses that are really troublesome to get rid of, and if you notice your anti-virus picking up the same ones over and over again you should talk to a computer tech about it. If you have been without anti-virus software for a while, you should also download a registry scanner to make sure you do not have an infection in the Windows Registry.

Having too many programs running can make your computer run slow, too. If you have a lot of programs launching at start up, see if you can tell them not to. While it is convenient to have certain programs start up with your computer, such as instant messaging programs, they eat up computer resources even if they are just sitting there in your tray. Usually, this option is located somewhere in the Settings menus.

The next two options are much more involved issues that the average computer user should not attempt to resolve them by themselves.

Computer Freezing On Facebook Games Could Be The Video Drivers

The first of these is that there is a need to update your computer’s video drivers. Video drivers that are out of date, generic, or not a perfect match to a computer’s graphics card or operating system can run into intermittent issues, such as being able to watch movies but not run flash games or video chat with other people over the Internet. It can be really random where the problem strikes and your computer freezes, depending on the situation. There is a very good piece of software that will manage your system’s drivers called Driver Scanner. If you want to purchase such software, then that is the only one I would recommend. Otherwise, have someone determine what kind of hardware you have and update your video drivers accordingly.

There are many people out there that try to run the latest version of Windows on computers that are almost ten years old. If this describes you, then your problem is likely here. There are ways to fix this without buying a new computer, such as upgrading some of the hardware inside your computer or rolling back your installation. It is remarkable how well older hardware can handle newer software, but sometimes it is all these old machines can do just to run the newest version of an operating system, making doing anything interesting on top of that difficult, if not impossible.

We hope this has solved your computer freezing on Facebook games issue, and that you have a happy future playing Facebook games to your heart’s content.

People are discovering that their SD memory card freezes computer more and more often. Browse any computer forum and you will see a ton of entries asking, “Why does my computer freeze when I insert a camera card?” This is partly due to the fact that there are more and more SD memory cards in use than ever before and as a result, there is more opportunity to see computer freezes happen. Still, it is not just the sheer number of SD cards in use that causes this to happen to more and more people, the technology advances also play a role.

SD Memory Card Freezes Computer

Common Causes

There are several common reasons a computer will freeze when accessing a memory card. Most can be fixed quite easily. Dirty contacts on the SD card can make it difficult for the information on the memory card to be properly sent to the computer. The computer can see some of the information and knows there is more it should be receiving. The computer dedicates more and more resources to getting this information and leaves no processing power for anything else and the computer freezes. Simply cleaning the contacts on the SD card will resolve this issue.

Another common reason Windows XP freezes accessing SD card is a virus. The virus may be on the computer or on the SD card itself. Scanning the computer before inserting the SD card can often resolve the issue when a computer virus is the cause the problem. When the virus is on the SD card, open the anti-virus program on your computer. Then insert the SD card and as soon as your computer recognizes it, start a virus scan on the SD card. Some viruses can prevent the anti-virus program from opening so it is important that the program be open before the SD card is connected to the computer.

Broken SD Card

Less common but more frequent than we would like, the SD card may be defective. Usually this is the case with brand new memory cards, but sometimes it doesn’t happen until the card has been used for a month or even a year. Try a different card to see if it works, if it does, the problem is probably with the card rather than the computer. If neither card works, you are probably dealing with a driver issue.

It is also a good idea to try the card that is causing your computer to freeze on another computer. If the other computer also freezes when accessing the card, there is one last test to be sure that the card itself is defective. Go to the Start menu and click on My Computer. Insert the SD card. When it appears in the My Computer window, right click on it and choose properties. If the graphic depicting free and used space shows the card to be full and the capacity is stated to be 0 bytes, then the card is probably defective.

Unfortunately, the only solution is the replace the broken SD card. The pictures, music and any other data files that are on it will not be accessible. If the information is especially important, you can try contacting a data recovery specialist but, they are very expensive.

Driver Issues

The next biggest reason an SD card would make a computer freeze, is corrupt or incompatible drivers. The program in the computer that controls and transfers the information from the card reader to the computer is called a driver. Every computer has a lot of different drivers and sometimes they don’t always work the way they are supposed to. The wrong driver might be installed or a change like updating a program or installing new software might have broken a driver that has previously been working perfectly.

Identifying a malfunctioning SD card reader is fairly easy. Click on the Start button and right click on My Computer. In the list that appears, choose Manage. Click on Device Manager in the left pane of the window that opens. If the SD card reader is built in, click on the plus sign next to Disk Drives. If it is not in the disk drive list, click on the plus sign next to Other devices, it will be listed here as Unknown device. Regardless of which list it is in, right click on the SD card reader and choose properties. In the middle of the window is a section labeled Device Status. If there is a problem, it will provide a code indicating why the SD card reader isn’t working. Search the Internet for this code along with your brand of SD card reader and you should find some clear guidance on fixing the problem. If it says the device is working properly, you can click on the Troubleshoot button and the wizard will walk you through identifying why the SD card is freezing your computer and help you fix it.

If the SD card reader you are using is plugged into a USB port, scroll to the bottom of the list in the Device Manager window and click on the plus sign next to Universal Serial Bus Controllers. In the list that appears there should be one labeled USB Mass Storage Device. Right click on it and choose Properties. Check the Device status window to see if there is any guidance on fixing the problem. If it says the device is working properly, click on the Troubleshoot button and let the wizard walk you through resolving the issue.

If you do not see one labeled USB Mass Storage Device, look for one labeled Unknown Device. Right click on it and choose properties. Then click on the Driver tab and choose Update Driver. Now simply follow the on-screen instructions. If you have an Internet connection it is usually best to let the wizard connect to the Internet if it asks to.

By simply following these steps, you will be able to resolve most instances when an SD memory card freezes computer.

Is your Dell Inspiron laptop making loud noise and freezing? There are a couple of issues that could be causing the problem, especially if you notice that the Dell Inspiron laptop freezes with Windows 7. The first thing you’ll want to check for is a malfunctioning fan. The fan on a laptop is designed to run during use to cool the laptop down. If your Inspiron’s fan is to blame, then the computer could be overheating causing the freezing, and the fan itself is what’s causing the loud noise.

Dell Inspiron Laptop Making Loud Noises And Freezing

The first step in determining the problem is to listen to the sound the computer is making. A problem with the fan will generally be heard with two different distinct sounds. The first is a very loud and obvious churning or chugging noise. It can sound like a grinding type of noise as well. The second most common noise to be heard is a more discreet but still noticeable ticking sound.

In a laptop that is featuring an ongoing ticking noise, the issue may be as simple as a fan that is clogged with dust or debris. After being used on a daily basis for a time, a laptop can suck in quite a lot of dust through the vents where the fan is located. Occasionally there can be so much dust that the fan blades are unable to rotate properly. The ticking noise is the fan attempting to run and being interrupted. Luckily, this can be the easiest fix of all the possibilities.

Use a vacuum cleaner with a hose or brush attachment to clean out the laptop. Simply run the vacuum attachment along the vents in the bottom of the laptop to suck out as much loose debris as possible. If that does not fix the noise, do not attempt to open up the computer yourself unless you are an expert! At that point, your best option is going to be taking the computer to a repair shop, where they can safely take the laptop apart to clean it out. A simple fan cleaning job shouldn’t cost you that much either.

For Inspirons that are making more of a deep churning sound, the problem is similar but may be more complex. Again, it is likely that the underlying issue is the fan. However, a sound like this can signify a problem inside the motor of the fan which is basically inaccessible to you, unless you’re a pro.

First, listen closely to the sound. Does your laptop make the sound all the time, or only periodically? A laptop’s fan doesn’t run continuously, just when it begins reaching a high temperature. If the noise only starts when the fan would normally run, you can bet you have found the source of your anxiety. If the motor is clogged by dust or debris, you may even feel a vibration from the bottom of the laptop when the noise starts.

You can try to vacuum method for this problem, but chances are high that you’ll end up taking it to the repair shop anyways. Depending on the amount of damage the fan has experienced, it may need to be replaced to correct the sound. If you get lucky, a quick cleaning will do the trick.

If the sound you’re hearing from your Dell Inspiron doesn’t sound like either of those options, but is instead a very high pitched squealing noise- you may have a bigger problem on your hands. A sound like this accompanied by a totally frozen screen can signify an issue with the computer’s hard drive itself. The best advice for this situation is grim at best; Make back-up copies of any important documents you have on your laptop pronto.

Before you rush your laptop off to the repair store though, try unplugging any extras you may have plugged into the laptop. Try it with battery only, and then with the charger plugged up too. You want to make sure it’s not a peripheral attachment problem first. If none of that helps, you’ll need to run the Dell extended diagnostics on the drive. If there is a problem in the hard drive sector, the diagnostic test will trip a specific code that can be sent to Dell so they can replace your hard drive.

That being said, if your laptop freezes up during the diagnostics, or before they can even get started, you should check your warranty. If your Dell is still under warranty, there is a possibility that the warranty will cover the diagnostics and needed fixes. If you don’t have a warranty, you may as well store your important info on a flash drive and head out to the repair shop.

Considering all the components inside your computer it’s no wonder something can go wrong at any time and cause your computer to freeze. One common culprit of a computer freezing is the network card. When the network card crashes my computer, it can be a pain, but it is fixable. Typical causes of crashes due to network card are driver problems, hardware conflicts or an issue with the card itself.

Network Card Freezes My Computer

Driver Issues

A driver is a small program that facilitates communication between the computer’s operating system and the hardware. In this case, problems with the driver mean my network card locks up my computer. Driver problems, once diagnosed, are easy to fix once the specific driver issue is found.

Corrupt driver: Since a driver is just a small application and it is accessed constantly, it can become corrupt. To diagnose corrupt network card drivers, try a software package like DriverScanner. Once you’ve determined a corrupt driver to be the culprit, uninstall and reinstall it. To uninstall your network card driver, go to Device Manager in Windows. The absolute fastest way to get there is to right click My Computer –or just “Computer” in the Start Menu in Windows 7 – and click “Manage.” From there, find Device Manager, browse to your card under “Network Adapters,” right-click it and select “Uninstall.” Rebooting your computer should then result in a “found new hardware” message and the drivers should reinstall on their own.

Outdated driver: Sometimes your network card driver is fine, but it’s just outdated. This usually happens after an operating system update, such as Windows Update, applies patches that help your OS but render your network card obsolete. When this happens, your best bet is to check the manufacturer’s web site for driver updates. If that doesn’t work, run Windows Update again and check the “hardware” section of the update. It is possible Microsoft has released a compatible driver. Either way, updating the outdated driver will fix the issue.

Hardware Conflict

When the network card freezes my computer and I’ve made recent system changes, it’s likely those changes are contributing to the problem. When adding new hardware, it’s important to research the new piece of equipment to determine whether others have had problems with it. General online forums dedicated to computer hobbyists and specific manufacturer support forums are a great place to start. If you installed a new piece of hardware and didn’t do your research, though, there are still fixes available if new hardware may be causing your network card to crash your computer.

Driver conflicts: Sometimes, the new hardware’s driver just doesn’t “play nice” with your network card drivers. To diagnose whether this is the issue, first go to Device Manager via the methods listed above. Browse to your new piece of hardware, right-click it and select “Disable.” Reboot your computer. If you can then use your computer without crashes being caused by the network card, then the driver may be the problem. Search for updated drivers for your new hardware and try those. If that doesn’t work, try to contact customer support for your network card and for the new piece of hardware. They may have a solution for you.

Hardware conflict: On some occasions, drivers work just fine but the new piece of hardware still causes the network card to lock the computer. This typically happens because the new piece of hardware might occasionally use the same system resources and interrupt requests as existing hardware like your network card. To diagnose this, check your computer’s System Log (found under Computer Management) for IRQ and hardware related errors. If these errors occur, uninstall the video card and try to move it to a different slot on the motherboard. If this isn’t possible, try to install updated drivers. If none of this helps, it may be necessary to return the new hardware to the store and research more compatible equipment.

Network Card Going Bad

When the network card crashes my computer, it may not be a driver problem or a hardware conflict at all. It could just be that your network card is failing. To find out if this is the case, check your computer’s System Log for network card hardware errors. If you can’t find any but you still believe the network card is the culprit, disable the card using Device Manager. Use your computer as normal and watch for issues. If there are no crashes after uninstalling the network card, it could mean the card is going bad. Replacement cards are available in stores and online. USB network cards and USB wireless adapters are inexpensive alternatives as well.

The biggest complaint that computer users have is that their computer is constantly freezing. It doesn’t matter if you’re doing homework, struggling to complete a project with a deadline for your job or just trying to have some fun, nothing is more frustrating than having everything grind to a half when you least expect it. Fortunately, there are ways to fix a computer that constantly freezes. Here are some common reasons for this widespread problem.

Computer Constantly Freezes – Tips

Cleanup Needed

Many people take their car to the mechanic every 3000 miles or so for an oil change and regular maintenance. How often do you do anything like this for your computer?

We install programs, uninstall them, write files, delete them and, in general, run our computers into the ground. Everything we do on computers leaves information in the hard drive and in the registry. Too many fragments left behind can corrupt your registry and cause your computer to freeze.

You should run a registry cleaner application regularly to scan for errors and orphaned fragments of data. These stray bits can be easily deleted, leaving your registry healthy. You should also defrag your hard drive from time to time. Finally, uninstall those old programs you’re no longer using.

Memory Issues

Modern programs need more RAM than their ancestors. If your system is older and your computer freezes up constantly when performing routine tasks, you may need to add memory. If you have enough memory and your computer freezes or bluescreens, your RAM may have simply gone bad. Diagnostic programs are available to test for bad RAM. When you find which memory module is bad, replace it and you’ll be back on your feet.

Background Programs

This is also tied to memory. Many programs like to run in the background, even when it’s not necessary. Each program that does this eats a little bit of memory. When too many programs do this at once, it can lead to your computer constantly freezing.

To fix this, launch MSCONFIG from your computer’s “Run” prompt and go to the “Startup” tab. The name of the executable for every program that runs at startup is listed there. Do some Googling and check each one to see if they are vital or not. Uncheck the ones that aren’t to keep them from running at startup. Be careful, though. Some programs are absolutely necessary and if you turn them off you could make things worse. If you’re unsure, consult a computer repair professional.

Corrupt Drivers

Drivers are the programs that let hardware devices like your mouse, video card, DVD ROM drive and iPod communicate with Windows and vice versa. They are simple programs and they can be easily corrupted through constant access. If you find that your computer constantly freezes when you try to use a certain piece of hardware, uninstall it through Device Manager. Reinstalling it refreshes the driver.

Driver-related freezing can also be the result of outdated drivers. If you’ve updated your OS recently and using a specific piece of hardware causes a freeze, try updating that device’s driver by visiting the manufacturer’s web site and downloading the latest driver. If you want some reliable software to take care of your driver updates, then I would recommend Driver Scanner 2012.

Hard drive problems

That churning, grinding sound you hear is your computer accessing your hard drive (HDD). If computer freezes with constant HDD access, it’s very possible your drive is corrupted or damaged. To fix corruption, run scandisk or a commercial disk scanner to analyze the disk and look for corruptions. Files in bad sectors can be copied with varying degrees of success, and then those bad sectors will be marked as bad so your system no longer tries to use them.

If you feel your hard drive is damaged and that’s what’s causing the computer to freeze, it’s best to replace the hard drive immediately while you can still access the data. Back up anything you need onto a portable hard drive or removable media and replace the drive with a new one right away.

Bad Location = Computer Constantly Freezes Up

Sometimes where you use your computer causes it to freeze. If it’s near an area with bad RF interference, like a kitchen with a microwave or near broadcasting equipment if you work in TV or radio, this interference could cause your computer to freeze. Sometimes it’s as simple as using your laptop on a carpeted floor, which can block exhaust ports and cause overheating. It could also be you’re using a desktop computer but it’s kept on the floor where it gets filled with dust, debris and pet fur. Try changing the computer’s location to see if that helps.

These are just some of the many reasons computers suddenly freeze. There are certainly many more, but this list should help. So next time your computer freezes, instead of asking “Why does my computer constantly freeze up!?” you can ask, “How can I fix this myself?”

Windows 7 is the latest version of the Microsoft Windows operating system and despite its features and improvements; there are still a number of issues. The software works better than Vista, but it does have a few flaws. One of the most common problems is that the computer freezes up after standby Windows 7.

Computer Freezes Up After Standby Windows 7

What is standby mode?

The standby mode is supposed to be a low powered state of the computer that will temporarily store data and allow you to resume the computer right away. The computer is still on, it is still using the power source and everything is functional. The data is not saved on the hard drive, so if the computer loses power or shuts down in this state, then it will lose all of the unsaved data. It is slightly different from the hibernation mode because it does not completely power down the computer and all of the data is not saved on the hard drive. Standby mode is best when used when you are a few steps away from the computer, but it is not good if you will be away for hours.

Common standby problems

A lot of users of Windows 7 complain that their computer freezes after going into standby. The computer will seem like it is working find and then once it goes into standby and they return to the computer it will become unresponsive. Unfortunately, once the computer is unresponsive there is little that can be done other than to restart the computer, which can cause you to lose data. This is a common problem and there is no official solution or fix from Microsoft, but there are a few solutions that you can use to help resolve the issue.

Solutions to standby problems

When your computer freezes up after standby Windows 7 will become unresponsive and there will be little that you can do at that point. Your only recourse is to turn off the computer and then try to implement some different solutions. The solution to your standby problems actually depends on the cause of the problem, which could be a recently installed program, the registry, or some other issue altogether. Some believe that Windows system standby freezes are caused by a glitch in the software that will have to be resolved by a Windows update. Here are some of the solutions that may resolve your standby problems.

- Turn off the standby feature – You can always go to the control panel and turn off the standby feature if it is causing you to have a lot of problems. Once you have turned off the standby feature, you will still be able to use other settings to power down the computer when you are not using it. Some good alternatives are hibernation, sleep, or shut down as long as you have already saved your data.

- Use a registry cleaner - A registry cleaner can be a useful tool that can resolve this particular issue and improve the overall health of your computer. The Windows registry is a database that saves numerous settings and data about the current state of the computer and the software. Almost every program or software you used on your computer was noted in your database and much of that information will remain long after the data was supposed to deleted or uninstalled from your computer.

The Windows registry can get filled with useless information that will cause your computer to slow down and malfunction in some cases. It is never recommended that you actually go into your registry and remove files on your own because it can ruin your system if you do not know what you are doing.

The best course of action is to purchase a reputable registry cleaner. A registry cleaner will remove the unnecessary data and help your computer speed up and function properly. Sometimes using a good registry cleaner can resolve an issue with the standby mode, so it is definitely something to consider. Make sure that you find a reputable registry cleaner because some of these types of programs can be spyware. Check the company before you decide to download and install their software.

- Get all of the appropriate Windows updates - Microsoft regularly releases updates for all of their most recent software like Windows 7. Although you have the option of shutting off the updates or declining to receive certain ones, it is recommended that you update them anyway. If you do not have all of the appropriate Windows updates, then it could actually cause your system to malfunction. This is not always the case, but it is better to err on the side of caution and update your system as soon as the updates become available.

- Look at the recently installed programs – Sometimes certain programs can cause your computer to freeze up and start having problems. It is not necessary to uninstall all of your most recently installed programs, but you should take note if you start having a lot of problems right after you install a certain program. If you do notice a lot of Windows system standby freezes right after you have installed a particular program, then uninstalling it may resolve the issue.

Computer freezes after going into standby are common in Windows 7. Many speculate that Microsoft will release an update to resolve the issue, but you can still implement some of these solutions to fix the problem for yourself.

In my professional opinion, Malwarebytes is the best ‘free’ program for removing any type of spyware/malware that may have gotten into your computer system.

I recommend running this program once every two weeks. Like all programs like this, it is important to update it each time before you run it.

Malwarebytes is super easy to use and simply put, very effective.

Here are some instructions for getting it all setup on your computer.

1. Go to http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free and click on the Download Now button in the FREE column (you will probably get redirected to CNET to actually download the program)
2. Run the setup and install with all the default selections
3. While installing, make sure that these two selections are checked:

   

4. After clicking Finish, the program will go out and update
5. If you get prompted to Start Trial, just click Decline
6. Click Scan to perform a Quick Scan
7. After the scan is done, there will be a log file that pops up – just close it out
8. Click the Show Results button to see what objects have been found for removal
9. Click Remove Selected (I recommend always removing anything it finds)
10. After it’s done removing the infected items, another log file will pop up. Saving it is completely up to you. I typically do not save these.
11. In most cases, you will get prompted to reboot your computer in order for all elements to be properly removed
    
12. After reboot, your computer or laptop should be free of any malicious software!

Do you know how to start computer in safe mode? If you are experiencing problems with your computer due to viruses, hardware problems, or failing drives, safe mode provides a way to access your data and potentially solve the concern, or at least rescue your files in the event of a computer crash. For many trouble-shooting efforts, starting a computer in safe mode is the first step to recovering your files.

When you start computer in safe mode, the machine will run only the bare minimum of software needed to function. By loading this way, Windows circumvents many types of malicious software such as viruses, trojans, or malware. Additionally, computers with damaged drives may still open in safe mode. Depending upon the machine, you may also be able to access a network or internet connection while in safe mode, enabling you to access necessary drivers, anti-virus software, or other valuable resources online without sacrificing the safety of your computer.

How To Start Computer In Safe Mode

Depending on the type of operating system you run, starting a computer in safe mode will be a bit different. For Windows 7, Vista, ME, XP, and Windows 98, there are two ways to start a computer in safe mode:

F8 Method for All OS:

1. Press F8 while the computer is booting, before the operating system loads.
2. This will bring up a screen detailing start-up options, including “start in safe mode” or “safe mode with networking.”
3. Use the arrow keys to choose the option that best applies to what you need to do, and hit “Enter” to start in safe mode.
4. The computer will automatically boot up in safe mode, allowing you to access whatever files you need.

MSCONFIG Method for Windows Vista and Windows 7:

1. While in desktop mode, close out of all applications.
2. Click on the “Start” button, and then select “Run.”
3. In the “Run” field, type “MSCONFIG” and select “OK.”
4. Select the “Boot” tab
5. Check the box for “Safe boot”
6. Select “Apply,” then select “OK”
7. A box will pop up asking you to restart; select “Restart.”
8. After you have completed your tasks in safe mode, repeat steps one through three; then select the “Normal” tab and select the option for “Normal Start-up.”

MSCONFIG Method for Windows 98/ME:

1. While in desktop mode on your computer, close out of all applications.
2. Click on the “Start” button, and then select “Run.”
3. In the “Run” field, type “MSCONFIG” and select “OK.” This will bring up your system configuration program.
4. Select the “Advanced” button, which will bring up the advanced troubleshooting menu
5. Select “Enable Startup Menu”, and then select “OK.”
6. A screen will pop up asking you if you wish to restart your computer; select “OK.”
7. Once the computer restarts in safe mode you may do whatever tasks are required on your computer
8. When you’re done, you can return your settings to normal by repeating steps one through six, but this time uncheck the box for “Enable Startup Menu.”

MSCONFIG Method for Windows XP:

1. While in desktop mode, close out of all applications.
2. Click on the “Start” button, and then select “Run.”
3. In the “Run” field, type “MSCONFIG” and select “OK.”
4. Select the “BOOT.INI” tab
5. Select “/SAFEBOOT”
6. A box will come up asking if you would like to restart; select “Restart.”
7. After you have completed your tasks in safe mode, repeat steps one through four, but uncheck “/SAFEBOOT”

For machines running Windows 95 and 2000, there is no MSCONFIG method; you can only start the computer in safe mode using F8 at start-up.

On any machine, if you have difficulty starting your computer in safe mode using the F8 method, you should not force it to run in safe mode through the MSCONFIG. The reason is that if your computer is infected with certain types of malware, the necessary registry keys to start your computer can be damaged. Selecting the MSCONFIG options to restart your computer in safe mode can actually render the machine totally unusable, as it will continue trying to start but be unable to.

In order to fix this, you will need to start your computer with a boot disk and rename your boot.ini file.

Also note that when running your computer in safe mode, the machine may run differently than it does in regular mode. If running in safe mode with networking, your internet or network connection will probably be slower than normal. Additionally, as the computer only utilizes one set of graphics drivers while in safe mode, your screen’s appearance and resolution will be different from normal.

For many common computer problems, starting a computer in safe mode is the first step to deleting dangerous software or recovering damaged files. Now that you know how to start your computer in safe mode, you will be able to accomplish troubleshooting tasks to save your computer.

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